* Faults: These are fractures in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved past each other.
* Plate Movement: As tectonic plates move, they exert forces on each other, causing rocks to bend and deform.
* Elastic Strain: When rocks are bent, they store energy like a stretched rubber band. This stored energy is called elastic strain.
* Fault Slip: Eventually, the elastic strain in the rocks exceeds their strength, and they break. This sudden release of energy is what causes earthquakes.
In summary: Plate movement creates stress along faults, causing rocks to bend and store energy. This stored energy is released as seismic waves when the rocks break, resulting in earthquakes.
